Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) in the visual periphery has not been extensively studied.
DVA is a measure of an observer's ability to resolve critical details in a target when there is
relative motion between the target and the observer. This dissertation examined static and
dynamic acuity in the 25-55 deg region of retinal eccentricity under a variety of conditions.
Functionally, this region of the visual field is just beyond the "blind spot," but not yet in the "far"
visual periphery of 60-90 deg of eccentricity. Traditionally, DVA research has been confined to
the assessment of DVA for the foveal (or "central") visual system. However, the peripheral (or
"ambient") visual system provides very important information content for the visual and neuro-vestibular
systems. This peripheral visual information content is also used to create a sense of
ego motion (termed "vection"), and for alerting the visual system to targets entering or leaving the
field of view. Past findings involving visual acuity in the peripheral retina have demonstrated that
peripheral acuity performance has components related to the notion of "attention" as well. This is
particularly true if the peripheral vision research results are to be applied to visually and
attentionally complex and/or dynamic real-world environments.

In this experiment, the 25-55 deg eccentric region of the retina was tested for DVA in 50
observers. This study used a mixed four-factor research design with Eccentricity (25, 35, 45, 50,
55 deg) as a between-subjects factor. Tracking Difficulty (monitor only, easiest, moderate, most
difficult tracking levels), Landolt C Target Velocities (0.0, 4.88, 14.62, and 24.40 deg/s), and
Target Direction ("F/R:" fixed or random direction of target appearance) were used as within-subjects
factors. A computer presented the Landolt C ring targets under the stated conditions in a
random fashion. Acuity was determined for each trial by a modified descending method-of-limits
approach with the Landolt C ring target gap widths utilized as the determinant for the acuity
measure. The Tracking Task was designated as the primary task, with the secondary task being to
indirectly observe the orientation (up, down, right, left) of the Landolt C rings being presented
under the various conditions of Target Velocity and Target Direction in the retinal periphery.

The resulting Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences (p < 0.05)
for each of the main effects of Eccentricity, Tracking Task Difficulty, Velocity, and Target
Direction (F/R). Only two of the two-way interactions were found to be significant (p < 0.05)--
those of Tracking Difficulty x Target Velocity and Target Velocity x Target Direction
interactions. The results are discussed in terms of the psychophysical, attention, and "tunnel
vision" like models of peripheral visual performance, along with other related human factors
literature in the domain of "situation awareness" that are relevant to this general problem area.

The results of a separate follow-on mini-study are discussed using a Two-way
Contingency Table analysis across all of the treatment conditions when verbal intrusion was
embedded in the previously described experimental conditions. This mini-study revealed a
significant association (p < 0.05) with not seeing the peripheral targets as accurately when
intrusion was present, versus when there was no verbal intrusion. This effect was more
pronounced at the highest velocities (14.62 and 24.40 deg/s) as compared with the slower ones (0
and 4.88 deg/s) in terms of the strength of the association, as assessed by a Kappa test statistic.

Taken all together, and with consideration given to the relatable scientific literature, these
results indicate that the more "busy" a person is with cognitive, visual, or motor-skills tasks, the
more likely an individual will show degradation in static or dynamic peripheral visual acuity
tasks. Peripheral vision often serves as a "warning" or "status" sensory modality for what is
occurring in the local task environment, separate from the foveal visual system. Future research
is suggested given the sensitivity of the peripheral visual system to these factors, particularly with
regard to how factors involving the notion of attention may affect such "peripheral visual
awareness" issues. These issues in turn may play an important role from a human factors and
safety perspective in a variety of person-rated vehicular domains. Specific areas that are
highlighted for future research in the domain of attention and "peripheral visual awareness"
include the low-altitude high-performance flying realm, the flying environment more generally,
and in other dynamic multi-task vehicular environments such as that encountered while
simultaneously driving and using a car cellular phone.